McEntee relishing Hearts' change of style under Vrancken

Oisin McEntee says he is enjoying a different style of play under new Hearts boss Wouter Vrancken, with less emphasis on “long-ball” football and a greater focus on “building from the back” and “patterns of play”.

The more direct style under Derek McInnes came very close to winning Hearts their first top-flight title in 60 years, but it is now a case of adapting to new manager Vrancken’s demands.

“I think just the patterns of play is probably the main thing,” McEntee said. “I think we had a very different approach last year where we’d kind of play a lot of long-ball football and make teams defend from there.

“I think this season we’re trying to build up from the back and the coaches are trying to introduce little patterns to play out from the back and play through midfield and just create chances. So I’d say that’s the biggest difference.

“It’s obviously different to last year in the style, but all the staff have been really helpful, like having individual meetings and helping each player with what they need to do.”

Trailing 6-1 from last week’s first leg, McEntee says he is looking forward to facing Benfica again, as he feels there are plenty of positives to take from the first game and the two previous European defeats to Sturm Graz.

He believes the level the side is being asked to play at will stand the players in very good stead for the rest of the season.

McEntee added: “You learn a lot because they’re some of the best players that we as a team have come up against, and every little thing – like maybe the strikers’ movements – can be different to what you’ve played against before.

“You just realise that these teams punish you when you make mistakes, so it’s just about lifting your level again.”

The Irishman says he and his team-mates are still confident of European group-stage football.

If Benfica do not blow a five-goal advantage at Tynecastle on Thursday, Hearts would very likely face Rapid Vienna for a place in the Conference League, with the Austrians comfortably ahead in their own tie.